The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-03-17

smelling q poisonous rose. Columbus, by
stopping and asking for piece of bread
and drink of water at Franciscan con.
vent was led to the discovery Of a new
world. And there is an intimate cennec.
ton between triaes and immensities, be.
tween nothings and everythings.
Now, be careful TO let none OF those
Annoyances 90 through your soul unar.
raigned. Compel them to administer to
your spiritual wealth. The scratch Of
Sixpenny nail sometimes produces lockiaW
and the clip or most lnilnltegimai annoy.
ance may damage you forever. Do not lot
any annoyance or perplexity come across
your soul without il making you better.
Our national government does not think
It belittling to put tax ON pins and a tax on
buckles and tax on shoes. The individ.
ual taxes do not amount to much. but in
the aggregate to millions and millions Of
dollars. And would have you, o Chris
tian man, put high tariff on every an.
noyance and vexation that comes through
your soul. This might not amount to much
in single cases, but in the aggregate It
would be a great revenue OF spiritual
strength and satisfaction. A bee can suck
honey even out Of nettle; and II you
have the grace of God in your heart, you
can get sweetness out of that which would
otherwise irritate and annoy.
A returned missionary told me that
company of adventurers rowing up the
Ganges River we're stung to death by tle9
that infest that region at certain seasons.
have seen the earth strewed with the car.
casses of men slain by insect annoyances.
The only way to get prepared for the
great troubles of life is to conquer these
small troubles. What would you say of
soldier who refused to load his gun or to
90 into the conflict because it was only
skirmish, saying, II am not going to ex-
pend my ammunition on o skirmish; wait
until there comes general engagement,
and then you will see how courageous
am, and what battling I will do" Tho
general would say 10 such man, "If you
are not faithful in Skirmish you would be
nothing in general engagement" And
have to tell you, o Christian men, II you
cannot apply the principles Of Christs
religion on small scale, you will never bo
able to apply them on large scale.
If had my way with you I would have
u.possess all possible worldly prosperity.
/ would have you each one q garden-a
river flowing through it, geraniums and
shrubs on the sides, and the grass and
flowers as beautiful as though the rainbow
had fallen. would have you houses
splendid mansion, and the bed should be
covered with upholstery dipped in the sit.
ting sun. I would have every hall In your
house set with statues and statuettes, and
then would have the four quarters Of the
globe pour in all their luxuries on your
table, and you should have forks of silver
and knives Of gold, inlaid with diamonds
and amethyists. Then you should each
- A6oR R,,a aH
pick of the equipages of the world. Then
1 would have you live 15O years, and you
should not have pain or ache until the
soy. Yes, each one of you. "Not to your
enemiesP" "Yes, the only difference l
would make with them would be that
would put little extra gilt on their walls
and little extra embroidery on their
slippers.
But you say, "Why does not God give us
all these things2" ALL I bethink myself.
He is wiser. Tt ;oald make fools and
sEuggards of us if we had our way. Ne
man puts his best picture in the portico or
vestibule of his house. God meant this
world to be only thu vestibule Of Heaven,
that great gallery of the universe toward
which we are aspiI ing. We must not have
1t too good in this world, or We would want
no Heaven.
Polycarp was condemned to be burnt to
death. The stake was planted. He was
fastened to it. The faggots were placed
around him, the fires kindled, but history
tells us that the flames bent outward like the
canvas of ship in stout breeze, 80 that
the flames, instead Of destroying Polycarp,
we've only wall between him and his enc.
mics. They had actually to destroy him
with the poniard; the flames would not
touch him.
Well, my hearer, want you 70 under
stand that by Gods grace the flames Of
trial, instead Of consuming your soul, are
only gcing to be wall Of defense and
canopy lessing. God is going to fulfill
to yout 'ssing and the promise as He
did to Fp: "When thou walkest
@rough thou shalt not be burned
Now you OF un1Nrstand; you shall
know hereal .er. In heaven you will bless
God even for the hornet.